Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday rejected accusations that corruption is endemic within Spain’s ruling Socialist Party (PSOE), as his government faces mounting pressure following the imprisonment of a former close ally in a major graft case that has intensified scrutiny of the administration.
The prime minister’s position has been weakened by a succession of corruption investigations involving relatives and former political associates, despite his international profile as one of Europe’s leading left-wing figures and his high-profile confrontations with US President Donald Trump and Israel.
Earlier this week, Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced José Luis Ábalos, once one of the PSOE’s most influential figures and a key architect of Sánchez’s rise to power in 2018, to 24 years in prison.
The court found that Ábalos had received substantial kickbacks linked to contracts for health equipment awarded during the Covid-19 pandemic. His former adviser, Koldo García, was also convicted. ALSO READ: Spain’s ex-transport minister sentenced to 24 years as corruption pressure mounts on government.
Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Sánchez dismissed opposition claims that corruption was deeply rooted within the PSOE, accusing political rivals and sections of the media of deliberately creating that impression.
‘Certain actors in politics and the media are trying to mix, to put on the same level and therefore confuse people, to create a sensation of widespread corruption which … does not exist,’ Sánchez told lawmakers.
The prime minister insisted he had no knowledge of the wrongdoing attributed to Ábalos and said such conduct would never have been accepted under his leadership. ALSO READ: Spanish PM denies any knowledge of suspected scheme targeting corruption probes.
‘I never knew about, nor would I have tolerated, any of these practices,’ he said, in reference to his former transport minister Ábalos, denying that the PSOE profited from illegal funding.
Acknowledging that mistakes can occur, Sánchez nevertheless defended his government’s response to the various scandals.
‘We are not infallible, but we will not make the mistake of staying silent or giving up,’ he said. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez vows not to quit, and presents 15-point anti-corruption plan.
The corruption allegations have extended beyond former political allies. On Saturday, the judge overseeing a two-year investigation into Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, ordered that she stand trial before a jury on allegations of influence peddling and also ordered the seizure of her passport. ALSO READ: Judge probing Spanish PM’s wife faces disciplinary action over comments on police.
Sánchez sharply criticised the investigation, arguing that the judicial measures imposed were excessive.
He denounced what he described as ‘precautionary measures that I believe … go beyond all reasonable limits’.
Meanwhile, a ruling is still pending in the case involving the prime minister’s brother, David Sánchez, who is accused of irregularities surrounding his appointment to a public-sector position in the southwestern province of Badajoz (Extremadura). ALSO READ: Trial of Spanish PM’s brother concludes amid wider corruption scrutiny.
The controversy has also touched José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the former socialist prime minister who preceded Sánchez in office and remains one of his closest political mentors. Zapatero was formally placed under investigation last month over alleged influence peddling linked to an airline rescue package. ALSO READ: Zapatero corruption probe widens as daughters and secretary are named suspects.
The accusations are particularly damaging for Sánchez because he came to power in 2018 championing anti-corruption measures after the right-wing People’s Party (PP) was convicted in a major graft scandal.
Opposition parties have seized on the latest developments to renew calls for his resignation and for fresh elections. However, Sánchez has repeatedly insisted that he intends to remain in office until the next scheduled general election in 2027.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo argued that the government had lost the confidence of parliament and reiterated demands for Sánchez to step down and call an early vote, saying it was ‘obvious’ the minority coalition lacked parliament’s confidence.
Far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal was even more forceful, launching a direct attack on the prime minister during the parliamentary debate.
‘What are you doing sat there still? Do you not have an inkling of shame?’ he asked Sánchez. ALSO READ: Andalusia leaves Sánchez politically weakened as Spain edges further towards a PP-Vox era.
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La peor corrupción de este Gobierno es que Sánchez pretende robar las próximas elecciones en España. Es mi deber denunciarlo. Y es nuestro deber trabajar para impedirlo. pic.twitter.com/xiIv7gLxZD
— Santiago Abascal 🇪🇸 (@Santi_ABASCAL) June 24, 2026
Sánchez es el nexo político corruptor. pic.twitter.com/hglSRq0Bbl
— Alberto Núñez Feijóo (@NunezFeijoo) June 24, 2026
En este país, no debe haber ningún espacio para la impunidad de personas corruptas.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) June 24, 2026
Sean quienes sean. pic.twitter.com/yRRqXClXav
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